This document explains historically, St. Lucia's agricultural sector has been the engine of growth for the copuntry. The sector'srole in economic and social development has been one of supplying foreign exchange, generating employment, enhancing food security, increasing farm incomes, providing inputs to the development of other sectors and contributing to rural economic and social stability. Although overall real economic growth expanded by almost 2.5 per cent per annum over the last nine years (1990-1998), growth of the agricultural sector was less impressive. The sector's contribution to rel GDP declined at an average rates of 2.1 per annum betwwn 1990 and 1998. Its real share (inclusive of forestry, livestock, and fisheries) in GDP declined from 14.6 per cent in 1990 to 9.1 per cent in 1998. (MV)